Did the Mud Run today!

What is a mud run you ask?

Well - basically all the rednecks in the county that have the guts drive their redneckmobiles up to Abilene and drive it through a giant muddy hole as fast and as loudly as they can. I think it's all very fun - but don't really want to do it in front of people. So, this redneck waited until the competitive fun was over and then talked her mom into driving the redneckmobile to the hole and playing.... the pictures and videos show the rest.


This was actually really disappointing - I should've taken another picture because after the second run, there was a lot more mud!

And one more?

We had another really good storm today. We were unfortunately very lucky. Literally about two miles away, the winds and rain were way worse. We had some limbs down, but none that could benefit us. (Hence the "unfortunately very lucky".) I got pictures... pretty amazing - all of this damage is straight winds.. no tornado today.

We drove over this in the Xterra - cuz I'm a bad ass.

The wind pushed the top of this electrical pole off.. and then the wires caught on the stub. Cool, huh?

Roof taken straight off.

Big bad trees. Big dead trees as of today.


Several poles were taken down.




I know this picture just looks like grass to most of you. But it's actually a field of soybeans. Or Alfalfa... I can't remember which and the leaves have all been ripped off by the wind.


This one still has most of it's leaves, but if you look at it bigger you can see how the wind has pushed it all over.

Again... very cool.


In other news... I quit that one job.. and now I have a new, new one. I'm a receptionist at a car dealer. Lots and lots better. Even if I do have to wear pants.

well, I'm out of training

... and sorta working today...

Oh, and we got 3 inches of rain last night! I got a rain gauge from a friend. I love it!

As the storm blows around me...

I actually AM in a thunderstorm right now. Nothing massive but I heard it's hailing out a friend's house. I've gathered up the dog leashes and a couple bottles of water just in case. I'm sure it will just be rain, but you never know.

My brother and Tara did get engaged! I'm so excited and happy for both of them... and can't wait to see them in person to tell them. And give them both huge, teary hugs.

The campground is really struggling. We can't decide what to do or know what we can do. Last night, I had a brilliant idea. Well, brilliant for me. Start a pig farm! Start small - 2 mamas, which would likely = at least 14 babies eventually. I did a ton of internet research and picked the brains (ok, I think thats hail) of some experts and rain the numbers in a spreadsheet last night. That's right, I've got my master's, ya know. Well, I am guessing that we could make about $260 + 1/2 pig worth of pork in the 1st year. Not great numbers. The next year, if we kept 1 girl pig out of the litters, we could probably make about $1000 + 1/2 pig meat. Now we're starting to talk. 3rd year, we'd probably lose again, because now we need more space = more land, bigger fence. Anyway, basically I decided as much fun as it would be to be a pig farmer (and there is absolutely no sarcasm in that) it wouldn't save the campground (farm), so not this year.... but stay in touch.. there's no telling. I leave you with this photo:



From Gracie's point of view: Snack Time!
From Ashes point of view: Oh, shit!

SO much time has passed.

I'm sorry

When a certain amount of time has passed (or a certain number of stories to tell have accumulated) I feel overwhelmed with all I need to say and so... I say nothing.

I've closed the daycare. There were a lot of reasons, but the two biggest were collecting $$ from people who don't think they have to pay for daycare and have a partner who shows up late 3 days a week, I couldn't do it anymore. I was getting up at 5:30 everyday and for the most part dealing with fantastic kids and lousy adults. I've felt that way most of my life, but this re-affirmed it. Kids are cool, grown-ups are not.

I start a new job today at Alpine Access - - just over the computer/phone customer service, so I still get to be a hermit. Mom is back until November-ish, to run the campground, since (I guess b/c of the economy) the campground can't afford to pay me, and I can't afford to not get paid. Sucks.

Been swimming (actually just got out about an hour ago) and mowing and doing stuff.

I really am going to try to get back into the habit of blogging, even if for no other reason than I like to re-read them. I have time, it's just a matter of doing it.

Anyway... love to all, sorry for the hiatus, and in theory, we shall blog again in a few days!

What a difference a week makes

So this time last week, I still had 3 jobs and only one helper. Now I am down to 2 and 2 helpers! I feel almost like I am normal! Jenny and I run the daycare together and Mom came into town this weekend to help with the campground (mostly outside help - she wants to work on her tan tooo) until July! I have gotten more done in my personal jobs in the last 4 days than I have in the past 4 months! Thank God for April 16th!

Pig Varietals

Kyler got his pig for the 4-H show that happens in August. He has to get one more - because apparently pigs are like me...and if they don't have a peer to distract them, they may just run away. He got a York. Polands are my favorite because they have socks.

Pig Tutorship to follow.

York:

Hamp:

Poland:


Duroc:

Guinea:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Dessert: